FBI replaced Connie Nielsen with Sela Ward after its pilot episode, starting a trend of short character arcs in the franchise. FBI, which currently has 6 seasons, focuses on the day-to-day operations of the New York Field Office criminal division. Nielsen’s Ellen Solberg was a figurehead of the division as Special Agent in Charge. Nielsen and her character didn’t have a planned conclusion in the show, and she departed suddenly without explanation.
Not only was Nielsen replaced by Ward, but her character’s job was also taken over by Ward’s Dana Mosier. Nielsen’s career prior to CBS’ FBI included a stint as a detective on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as big-screen acclaim as Hippolyta in Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman and Justice League. While Ward remained on FBI for longer than Nielsen, her departure was less ominous and had more to do with legalities.
Connie Nielsen Left FBI After The Pilot For An Unspecified Reason
While Nielsen only played Ellen in the pilot episode of FBI, the character’s exit was not originally planned. Nielsen was recast for an undisclosed reason, leading to the introduction of Ward’s Dana in FBI episode 2. Although Nielsen’s casting made sense, given her six-episode run on co-creator Dick Wolf’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, her departure from FBI may have been due to her schedule.
This was not confirmed by Nielsen herself, but around the time of FBI’s release, Nielsen was involved in several other projects. She starred in the war film The Catcher Was a Spy, which was originally set to be released in September 2017 but got held back until January 2018. She also starred in a limited TV series called Liberty, which began filming in May 2017 (via Cineuropa). Perhaps her busy schedule or subsequent roles on projects like I’ll Find You and I Am The Night led to her stepping down from FBI before the pilot even aired. Nielsen isn’t the only actor to make a quick exit from FBI though.
Why Sela Ward Left FBI After Only One Season
Ward joined the FBI cast less than a month after Nielsen’s exit from the show was announced. Much like Nielsen, Ward also knew Wolf prior to FBI (via TV Insider). A veteran procedural star from her time on CSI: NY, Ward portrayed a similar character to Nielsen’s, with Dana being the Special Agent in Charge’s replacement. However, Ward’s time on FBI was also short-lived. Her character’s exit from the show was scripted into the FBI season 1 finale, with Dana announcing her resignation. This came after Dana put her job in jeopardy by allowing Agent Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) to take on a case she had personal ties to.
Unlike the mystery around Nielsen’s departure from the show, Ward’s reasoning was fairly straightforward. Per Deadline, Ward only joined the series under a one-year contract. She even addressed her farewell on Twitter, where she expressed her gratitude for the FBI cast, crew, fans, and her time as Dana. Whether due to new opportunities or time running its course, Nielsen and Ward, both esteemed actors, portrayed steadfast, thriving-under-pressure female characters on FBI.
